Chapter 60

Louis was Derek's closest friend. Their friendship spanned both their lifetimes. As children, they had seen their fathers pay visits to each other and had developed a friendship right from the time when they were toddlers. They both grew into brave, strong men and each served his kingdom with loyalty and unwavering patriotism. Even though Derek was the general of Gladion, under a tyrannic and selfish king as King Williams was, he still was an honorable man. There were things he could not help, like the hiking of taxes, or when King Williams made nocturnal visits to the home of some of the kingdom's maidens and had an unchaste relationship with them. But other things he could help, such as the dismissing of aged officers without a payment plan for their retirement, he did help; he made secret arrangements with the accountants and they paid these men so they would not have to suffer in their old age.

When King Williams told him about the plan to invade Linerdo, he was